Greetings Everyone! As the weather in North America turns to spring, with all its beauty and the hope of new beginnings, we wanted to bring you up to date on SD’s work from February 2024.

The Board met in Boise, Idaho for its annual grant giving session. Over $70,000 was distributed to the following projects:

• Anisha
• Atalanta
• Beautiful Portland
• Bina Cita Utama (BCU)
• Borneo Football
• Casa Cuna
• Cows for Kids
• Fuegos
• Fundacuion Amanecer: Teremuka
• International Child Development Program (ICDP)
• Inner City Schools
• Quest
• Tijuana Family Outreach
• Usaha Mulia Abadi
• Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta (YTS)
• Yayasan Usaha Mulia (YUM)

These projects represent work both in the US and in other countries.

New SD USA Board member Oswald Norton described his experience in the granting process this way:

“Joining SD-USA as a board member brought about a new chapter in my Subud life: contributing to the work of our giving wing.

Susila Dharma-USA provides funding for 19 Subud-member projects located around the world. I was given the opportunity to connect with 3 of these projects when I became a board member.

As a part of our annual granting meeting, my projects had to report on the use of their funds, granted for the previous year. And, complete a new application for funding for this year. At our granting meetings I was to represent these projects through the brief relationship I had been able to develop with them and the documents that they’d provided. It was an obligation I didn’t take lightly. We didn’t have enough money to be able to provide the full funding requested.

Through our meeting, testing and decision processes over 2 zoom meetings and 2 days of in person meetings we were finally able to complete the process of determining how much we could provide each project, including mine.

Now that we’ve completed our granting for this year, I am grateful to the other board members and our national helpers for their help and guidance through this my first season. I look forward to the opportunity to get to learn more about the work of my projects and the communities they serve.“

Melinda Wallis Grant

In early February Illene Pevec requested funds to help feed 120 Venezuelans who had recently immigrated to Illene’s community of 7000 people. The Board provided this need by granting a one-time $500 grant from the Melinda Wallis fund.

In the coming months, the SD USA newsletter will share more information and stories and pictures from high-lighted projects. In the meantime, please take a moment to appreciate the beautiful blooms and gentle colors of the earth. The miraculous and timely renewal of life is all around us.

Zakat

We pray that everyone observing the Ramadan fast receives God’s grace and blessings.

For those wishing to give Zakat* through SD USA, donations this year will be split between Anisha in India and YTS (Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta) in Indonesia.

Please indicate “zakat” with your donation (online: use the drop-down menu under “choose a project”). If you are earmarking your donation for a different project, indicate that also.

Anisha
For almost two decades, Anisha has been a beacon of hope in drought-prone southern India. The project works with small-scale farmers and landless farm workers to increase their household food security by promoting organic farming practices, encouraging the establishment of home gardens, and providing native seeds from their seed bank. Anisha also provides support for at-risk children to stay in high school. In times of dire need (such as the Covid lockdowns) they distributed food to local families.

YTS (Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta)
Established over 25 years ago, YTS is a rural development initiative that helps small Dayak (native Bornean) communities to improve their livelihoods. They provide trainings and technical support for activities such as animal husbandry, fish farming, and marketing practices. They also have an education support program.

Both Anisha and YTS have helped thousands of the very poorest in their communities. Your zakat donation will help their vital support go even further.

* Zakat is a charitable donation traditionally given at the end of Ramadan. Unlike regular donations to SD USA during the rest of the year (disbursed annually as grants to projects), zakat donations are passed on immediately. Please indicate “zakat” with your donation.

Check out the video we presented at the SD AGM during the recent SUSA National Congress!

Click here to watch the video.

What about the Portland Match?

And, of course, thanks to the members of the Portland group for their unwavering support!

We invite all those who are attending the National Congress (September 7th – 11th) to join our SD annual meeting Sunday morning, right after latihan.

The meeting will include:

    o  A video presentation of the projects we support
    o  Meeting and voting for new board members
    o  Approving our updated bylaws.

Also, we have room for more board members so please pre-test if you are interested in becoming a board member.

If you are unable to attend the congress the video, bylaws and new board members will be posted on our website, susiladharmausa.org.

TERKEMUKA: Niños En Accion

Terkemuka is a project at Amancer, Colombia that brings together children ages 7 to 12 years in an afters-chool program for social, cultural and creative growth. The program was founded in 2018 but had to stop during the Covid crisis. With help from your donations, the project began again this July. Below is a brief report from Francisca Bonilla – Director and R.

“We made the decision to start working with the children after the Zone 8 meeting, (July 21 to 23) that was held at the Amanecer International Center.

There are already 20 children registered and their families are very satisfied. We believe that this project can be combined with activities with much emphasis on environmental awareness. For now, we are and we are going to enjoy working with the children.

We plan to finish the project in November, to match the Christmas holidays and hold several meetings with the community and children.”

Yayasan Usaha Mulia (YUM)

Here is a report from the directors and staff of YUM:

“Dear Sisters and Brothers,

In 2022, we slowly came out of the pandemic, and this meant that YUM was once again able to fully open all of our learning facilities and work within bigger groups in the communities. Our work in stunting prevention remains successful in reducing the stunting prevalence, one health post at a time. Throughout the year, we were blessed with generous donations that were vital in the running of various projects that supported more than 22,000 people. Many of you also immediately responded to our earthquake relief efforts in Cipanas, and we are immensely grateful for your support to those affected.

Please read our annual report:”

This year, 2023, marks the thirteenth year that Subud Portland has offered up a matching fund for Susila Dharma USA.  They have generously offered a $5,000 matching fund for Susila Dharma USA!

Starting today, they will match all donations made to SD USA, dollar for dollar. Which means:

Marilyn Shirk from Subud Portland shares what her group did to raise the funds:

Subud Portland has had a busy year raising the money for its annual Subud Portland/SD USA Matching Fund. We had a wonderful Silent Auction at Menucha last November with many “little treasurers” donated for the event. The funds generated at Menucha, combined with personal donations from some of our dedicated Subud Portland Members, and the money raised at our spring fundraiser, a Cinco de Mayo Celebration Potluck and Special Items Raffle, added up to our target goal of $5,000 for this year’s Match. Raising the seed money for our Annual Match is not an easy task, but it becomes fun and revitalizing when we have such a dedicated group of Center Members and SD Volunteers.

Now the rest is up to all the Members of Subud USA. Please dig deep and make a donation to double your donation through this year’s Portland Matching Fund for Susila Dharma. This is one of the most important fundraisers for Susila Dharma USA all year long, and we hope that you will embrace the spirit of SD as you show your support for its inspired work in the world.

Deepest thanks,
Subud Portland and its Susila Dharma Volunteers